Friday, May 28, 2010

I'm working on my last few custom pieces and I badly need an extra shot of inspiration! I'm dusting off the cobwebs in my brain (It's summer, forgive.) so that I can create something clever and unique for my extra special and extra excited customers. Because as corny as this sounds, there really is so much of myself and my thoughts in every single item I make.

Inspiration is as fickle as girls. But usually, I get moved by interiors, antique, big cities, everyday objects, movies, fairy tales, new supplies and the people who share their talent through their blogs and etsy shops. I guess it also helps that I have an active imagination and a very reliable internet service provider. ;) I found A LOT of visual stimulation online to get me started!

Monday, May 24, 2010

If you were at the Grove by Rockwell during the weekend, you might have popped by my booth, engaged me in much needed chin-wag and wrestled with the crazy Manila heat. I joined my first ever (and last!) bazaar before I turned into the next corporate junkie. What what!

Yes, I’m starting work soon. The kind that involves a boss, an office and thinking. Yay!

I’m a little melodramatic though that my Bend & Snap stint is over, but I keep reminding myself that it was my sense of wanderlust and a desire for challenges that brought me to this happy place – my blogshop! And so while I’m a bit hesitant to put down the pliers, I know it’s time for a different adventure.

I haven’t won an Oscar but who cares? I can DIY one. Ha! So allow me to have a moment for my big speech…

Thanks to my family (especially my mom) and my wonderful friends who encouraged me, helped me out, gave me great advice, made me laugh… all those things you find in a Hallmark card. Thank you for allowing me to take the driver’s seat and going with the flow!

To those who followed my blog and supported my craftivity, thank you very much. You make me feel so lucky that I was able to accomplish one of my dreams. There are fluffier ways of saying it, but I proved the whole “if you think you can, YOU CAN!” notion. You cannot help but do great things with that kind of mindset!

End... Scene!

So, the Supersale Bazaar was kind of like my graduation. Thanks to all those who came and helped out! I appreciate it. If you missed it, below is a glimpse of what it looked like for me.

Another thing I must tell you is this. I will be dumping/ consigning the last few items that I have. I’ll keep you posted on that one. I still might be open to the idea of creating custom pieces because, well, addictions are hard to break.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Today is a Sunday and I feel giddy, fresh and clever. It's as if cartoon birds might just fly through my windows and braid my goldielocks locks. The job hunt is looking up and today I woke up with much needed clarity!

Now, on to pretty young things. Here's virtual style muse and friend Rosanna of "Little Miss Dress Up", wearing one of my creations. Her pretty little face is popping up just about everywhere, including EDSA. Congrats, Sans!

PS, thank you to all the ladies who are constantly ordering from me. You are keeping me busy and inspired to get off my hump during my personal Vietnam. Thank you so much! Your words make me happy. :) Make my heart explode by posting your BAS photos on our fan page too.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Early today, the full theatrical trailer for Sex and the City 2 was officially released. HBO's not paying me for this but I figured I should write about the Fashion Fab Four here in Bend & Snap. After all, what's a fashion blog without a mention of the show that started it all? And the fiercely fashionable New York City gals that taught us to raise our Cosmopolitans to toast to the wonderful world of fashion where "no flower is too big, no skirt too short, or no shoe too expensive!"When the show started in 1998, I was a fifth grader who quickly skipped her teeny-bopper phase partly because of all the exposure this show has given me. In the same way that when we were 5, we wanted to be 7, when I was 11, I wanted to be thirty, flirty, and thriving (oops, this one's referenced to another show, 13 Going on 30 starring Jennifer Garner) like the SATC girls. I loved how they weren't doing homework but were out there in the real world tackling everything WOMAN- fashion, disposable finances, romantic relationships, friendship, career, beauty... I can go on and on but all I'd really like to point out is that I loved how it depicted a very new kind of empowered woman that one day, I'd like to become. I grew up with the TV show; I'm happy that now that I am a newly corporate career woman myself, it's still growing up with me through film.

Unlike the others who fancied being one of the characters, I always wished I were their fifth bestfriend who would have my own strongly differentiated personality / fashion style / branding (there goes the Marketing geek in me). I mean, don't you agree that they need an Asian member? Or that Farrah sounds like a perfect branded name to go with the others? LOL okay I'm dreaming again. Anyway, in countdown to the SATC 2 movie, let's get to know each of the girls again and bask in their respective signature looks. The Facebook quizzes may ask, Which Sex and the City Chica are you? but I say we all have a share of each of the girls. We have workaholic Miranda moments, idealistic Charlotte moments, vavavoom Samantha moments, and quirky Carrie moments. And that mixture, whatever the ratio, plus your very own spice, makes you your very own kind of woman.

Until my next movie fashion article! :x

MIRANDA HOBBESThe career-minded Harvard Law School graduate with extremely cynical values about relationships and men (borderline misandric); her character is eventually 'softened' as she becomes a mom to Brady and a partner to Steve*Miranda started quite fashionably challenged in the earlier series but I love how she's looking better and better in the latter parts of the series and in the movies. :)

SAMANTHA JONESThe group's most senior member with an extremely strong facade, confidence, and personality (perfect for her PR career); her character is further developed when she gets diagnosed with cancer, eventually conquering it and learning to live life beyond 'pleasures'

*Samantha is an extreme character. And I totally appreciate her shameless love for her self. If we all had those, then insecurities won't bite us so much. But beyond her extreme facade, I also appreciate how she's a really caring and loyal friend. She can be the worst bitch you'll encounter but if you're one of her girls, you'll always, always have her behind you.

CHARLOTTE YORKThe very traditionally brought up darling of the group with a truly romantic and optimistic personality; Charlotte was an art history major, straight A student, prom queen, cheerleader, student body president, track team captain, and teen model; much of her character's struggles represent our yearning for 'perfection' and the 'ideal'

*I've always found Charlotte amusing. I wish I can be as optimistic as her, not to mention as popular to the boys. :p

CARRIE BRADSHAWThe New York City glitterati member known for her unique fashion sense and her weekly column Sex and the City for the [fictitious] newspaper New York Star; she is also a contributor to fashion magazines like Vogue; her character is simple and open-minded, with ups and downs that make her very much relative to normal, everyday females

*I always thought I was more of a Carrie. And not just because I have Carrie-messy hair. Of all the girls, I connect best with her. I also like her very casual writing style- it's like writing freestyle for oneself without worrying of impressing the world or winning a literary award.

A special shoutout to the Girlie Slant team: I say let's schedule to watch this movie (if you're scheduled to watch it already, then let's watch it again!) and have a little team get-together! Yes yes?

By Farrah for Bend & Snap

**The author would like to note that this article has mentions lifted from the Sex and the City article properly referenced in Wikipedia. The photos are from the online archive galleries of SATC Fan Org and Carrie's Diary)

These are custom accessories I designed quite some time ago for a fashion editorial shoot. Thanks or no thanks to my skin allergies, I get to stay home during the long weekend and share these old photos with you.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

It's nothing major but baby victories are what I'm shooting for right now. I hate to go all Stephen Covey, but I do believe that success breeds success and we all need some messianic good news during tough times. Right?

I've totally gone Chumbawamba here cause I get knocked down but I get up again, thanks to this itsy-bitsy-teeny-weeny victory. :)

Monday, March 22, 2010

No, I'm not getting married. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. No. No. But I did say "I do." when my sister asked me to make the tuttifruiti accessories for their wedding. But a lot can happen in 10 months... recession, a change in theme, an aversion to hair froufrou or mad cow disease. It's the classic chick lit formula.

I'm so excited over all the possibilities for my "something new". Like everything Bend & Snap related, this will provide me laughter, escapism, amusement and as much bliss as the finale kiss in the chapel. And I hope to do the same for the entourage.

By now, you guys are probably already fans of Sea of Shoes, but have you heard about Style Rookie?

When I first read Sea of Shoes in 2008, I wished I was as stylish as Jane Aldridge was when I was 16. Fast forward to January 2010 -- this time I found out about Tavi Gevinson from Style Rookie. Far from her blog's name, she makes me wish I was as fashion forward as she is when I was 13!

To think she started her blog in 2008!

When I was 13 I already knew that I loved clothes and dressing up, but at that time I had very little knowledge of the fashion industry. Unlike Nissy who did Vogue back then (see her Glossy post), sadly, what I knew was limited to what I saw on TV and local fashion/teen magazines. Candy mag, anyone? :p

So I just find it amazing that someone at 13 is already making waves in the fashion world. Blogging, sitting front row at the shows of some of the biggest names in the industry, getting featured in Paris Vogue, and even giving her perspective on the whole bloggers vs. journalists issue(which I didn't even know 'til I read about it in her blog).

all photos are from Style Rookie

Her style probably won't appeal to everyone, but I love her take on layering and piling on articles of clothing when I'm in the mood for texture in my outfits. She's a great source of inspiration on how to throw on stuff in a new way especially on days when shopping for new stuff is not an option, and when I have already run out of ideas on how to maximize my closet.